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NFIB/Texas Salutes 2010 Small Business Champion
Friday, October 22nd, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Laura Stromberg, 512-476-9847
NFIB/Texas Salutes 2010 Small Business Champion
AUSTIN, October 21, 2010 –Eric Donaldson, president of Hot Shot Delivery Inc. in Houston, has been named the NFIB Small Business Champion for Texas by the National Federation of Independent Business.
Donaldson is a second-generation business owner; his father started Hot Shot Delivery in 1978. Donaldson currently employs 14 full-time staff and works with more than 70 contractors.
Donaldson has been an NFIB member since 2003 and was invited to join the Texas Leadership Council in 2005. Since then, he has spent countless hours traveling to Austin to testify and meet with NFIB staff and political leaders, attended hearings and meetings and has been invited to serve on various councils and committees.
In 2008, he was appointed by Comptroller Susan Combs to serve on the Texas Business Tax Advisory Council representing NFIB and small business owners.
“From his first day as a member, Eric has been active and engaged in every aspect of NFIB,” said NFIB/Texas Executive Director Will Newton. “He is a collaborator and team player; he has helped us build coalitions and relationships with groups that also put small business issues first.
Donaldson was instrumental in introducing NFIB/Texas to Texas Couriers and Logistics Association, one of the first groups to join NFIB/Texas in the push to reform the margins tax.
Donaldson has been involved in the Messenger Courier Association of America for numerous years and was the recipient of the MCAA’s 2007 Community Service Award for his work after Hurricane Katrina. In addition to his work, Donaldson is a committed soccer coach in the UCAL. He currently serves on the Texas Courier and Logistics Association board of directors and was a founder of the organization.
“He assists the NFIB/Texas office with meeting coordination in his area, serves as a spokesperson to the local and national media, and has often assisted in finding new member leads to help us grow our membership,” Newton added.
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NFIB is the nation’s leading small business association, with offices in Washington, D.C. and all 50 state capitals. Founded in 1943 as a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, NFIB gives small and independent business owners a voice in shaping the public policy issues that affect their business. NFIB’s powerful network of grassroots activists send their views directly to state and federal lawmakers through our unique member-only ballot, thus playing a critical role in supporting America’s free enterprise system.
NFIB’s mission is to promote and protect the right of our members to own, operate and grow their businesses. More information about NFIB is available online at www.NFIB.com/newsroom.
5 Ways To Ace An Interview
Tuesday, May 12th, 2009
After last week’s blog about people who blow their chances at a job by making thoughtless errors and mistakes in an interview, I figured I should follow up with a list of ways to ace an interview. Like I said before, I have learned a lot about hiring and firing over the years in my Houston Courier Company, Hot Shot Delivery. Whether it is sales, customer service, operations, IT, accounting or courier delivery contractors, the process to get good help is pretty much the same each time. Taking the time to interview is a process that is well worth it. You reap the benefits by getting long term, loyal employees and contractors.
So, let’s get in to it…
5 Ways to Ace an Interview:
1. Talking Points – Any seasoned PR professional will tell you that the secret to a good media interview is to pick your talking points and stick to them as you communicate your message. The same is true with a job interview. Brainstorm 2-3 points that you want the interviewer to know about you and find ways to insert them in to the conversation.
2. Practice The Standard Questions – do an internet search for “common interview questions” and print that list out and start practicing. The easy ones are “Tell me a little bit about yourself.”, “Why do you think you are right for this job?”, “What are your strengths and weaknesses?”, etc… Have these questions in your mind and be ready to answer them with eye-contact and confidence.
3. Interview the Interviewer – People naturally like to talk about themselves and their interests. Use this knowledge to prepare a big list of questions for your interviewer. But, a word of caution, make sure these questions are relevant and intelligent. The way to do this is to do research about the company. Go through the website, find press releases, find information in forums, check in to social media/networking sites and more to get a good grasp of the company, the management philosophy and how you would fit in with this environment.
4. Mirror Tells All - 93% of what you are communicating in an interview will come from non-verbal cues. How you sit in the chair, what you do with your hands, eye contact, etc… These things will tell an interviewer how interested you are in the position, how familiar you are with the subject at hand and your level of confidence. If you are not sure how you look as you answer the questions, practice in front of the mirror. That will give you a good point of reference and an idea of what to work to fix.
5. Follow-Up – I know I’m only speaking for myself and my Houston Same Day Delivery business, but I have a feeling most business owners feel the same…. I’m VERY busy. You may be the most qualified candidate for the job, but I may have had a business issue that has pulled my attention away from the hiring process. It is your job to follow-up with me. You want the job, you should follow-up to find out how the process is advancing. Now, another word of caution, do not follow-up 10 times in one week. That takes persistence to a level of nagging and annoyance. Use your best judgment in this area.
Those are my bits of advice for people going through the interview process. I wish you all well and don’t worry – if you are looking for a job, the right fit will come along.
Till Next Time,
Eric
5 Ways To Blow An Interview
Tuesday, May 5th, 2009
A few months back, I was in a position where I needed to hire someone to fill a role in my Houston Same Day Delivery business. After going through stacks of resumes, the interviews were all set up and I was ready to meet the good, the bad and the really bad candidates. Interviewing, as much as it can be a pain, is a very good reminder of the many types of people out looking for a job. And knowing the type of person that will be a good fit for your environment, an asset to your company and loyal to the proprietary information of your organization takes lots of practice. I have made some great hiring choices over the years and some horrible hiring choices. The horrible choices have taught me some great lessons that I would like to pass on to potential interviewees that are currently in the market. 
5 Ways to Blow An Interview
1. Gossipers – We have all worked for bad bosses and bad companies in the past, but there is no reason to run down a laundry list of flaws to your new potential employer. My natural response to this is “If they talk like this about their old boss, how will they talk about me?” If you are asked about the details, which you most likely will be, you should have a factual, dignifed answer prepared and leave it at that. Getting in to the he-said, she-said dirty details is not going to help you get the job.
2. Unprofessionalism – I tend to conduct interviews in a relaxed format. I don’t want to add to the nervous-factor, if I can avoid it. I want people to feel comfortable so I can get a feel for who they really are and how they will fit in with the family-atmosphere of Hot Shot Delivery. That being said, an interview is never the time to talk to me about personal problems, political ranting or any explicit information. I don’t care how comfortable you are with me, this is still an interview and we are still strangers. Stay professional and remember what you are here to do.
3. Arriving Unprepared - In this ‘age of the internet’, it is absolutely unacceptable to arrive to an interview without an idea of who the company is, what they do, how long they have been in business, etc… If I take the time to read through your history, education, accomplishments and references, you should be fully prepared as well. You would be surprised at how many people come to an interview completely unprepared and one of their questions to me is “What does Hot Shot do?”.
4. Dress The Part – If you want to be treated as a professional, show up like one. Clean, pressed clothing that is not missing buttons, has holes or stains is the way to arrive. Respect the role you are applying for by dressing for success. I’m not asking for a 3 piece suit – but I am asking for a little consideration when dressing for the interview that could become your new paycheck or lifelong career.
5. Don’t Know Yourself – Some of the most frustrating interviews to me are the ones where the candidate can’t tell me about themselves. Strengths, weaknesses, insight, opinions…anything. Why they want to work at this company and how it is the right fit for them seems to be something they should run through before walking in. Many people do not. So, be sure to practice these answers and come prepared to speak intelligently about yourself.
Interviewing is an art and some people are very good at it and others need some help. Just because you are not the best at interviewing does not mean you are not an extreme asset to an organization. If you take the extra time to practice, follow the do-s and don’t-s of interviewing and arrive with a smile, you are already ahead of the pack. Have faith, have confidence and knock em dead.
Till Next Time,
Eric
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